26mm Sway Bar.. kinda disapointed

[Prophet78]

Well during the Mini convention here in Fort Wayne I was able to swap in my new sway bar.

Well, I am somewhat disapointed. I can tell that it is there, but the diference is marginal. I am thinking it is due to my suspension setup. I thought the front strut tower brace did more than the bigger rear bar.

I am now thinking of adding a rear STB. Hopefully I will get more gains from that brace than from the bar.

 

[Toolman]

While the brace will help, it will not give as much gain as the bar should have. Did you use ploy bushings as well? What kind of suspension setup do you have? When I replaced my bars with the 24 F and 26 R, the difference was amazing.

 

[Prophet78]

Well,

I have Koni/Eibach all around. Brand new suspension parts like the plastic front endlinks and new control arms.

I have a front STB. TPR bushings on the rear bar. And I also have 225/50 series G-Force Tires.

I have a H-brace but it is not installed.
-Jeremy-

 

[AutoXSHO]

It depends on what you had on there before. The post '93 2nd gen cars got a wide variety of installed bars. I don't know what year your car is nor what you had on before. You also don't say what you have on the front.

a 26mm rear bar with a 20.6mm front bar is .. active, to say the least.

John V

 

[Prophet78]

I can't say what I have on the front. Probably a small one. The rear was quite a bit smaller. It weighed quite a bit less as well. You could definately see and feel the difference in the bars!

-Jeremy-

 

[thebigjimsho]

Yeah, I think if you want to feel a difference then you should have a smaller front bar installed. Also, of any suspension mod I have done, the rear STB was the least beneficial in my opinion. I felt no difference. Maybe in extreme cornering conditions, maybe. But don't go through the hassle if you haven't got other mods(SFC, alum. SFBs, tubular RCA, etc...)already.

 

[batchman]

FWIW I just put on a rear STB, not a big difference in handling just a little tighter.

Did find the add'l bracing helped quiet the car down on crap roads, which is actually what I was after.

Good luck sorting it out, sounds like a nicely modded SHO.

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[AutoXSHO]

I have to disagree 100% with thebigjimsho. The 26mm rear bar was the most noticable of all my suspension enhancements, and I have a bunch of them. Now granted I have been known to drive somewhat agressively on the street...

John V

 

[Prophet78]

I am going to have to re-neg a little bit. The bar is there and I do notice it. I was thinking it was going to be more of a difference. I can now take corners in my town at 60+ (I could before but the body would roll) and the body will only roll a little.

I like the bar, and I am going to keep it. I just need to get the SFC to complete the biggest portion of the setup.

-Jeremy-

 

[SHOed_up]

Best comparison for 26mm bar is to go out and do some circles in a parking lot, a skidpad sort of thing. Put the bar on and try it again. The car will stay much flatter.

 

[Prophet78]

Well when you have a suspension like mine and tires like mine, you can do this: When you are half way through an on ramp on I-69, that is listed to be safe at 30 MPH and you are doing 70 and tires don't peep, I don't think that doing circles in a parking lot will show much of anything. Of course, I could just be acting like a smart ass.

-Jeremy-

 

[thebigjimsho]

AutoXSHO:
I have to disagree 100% with thebigjimsho. The 26mm rear bar was the most noticable of all my suspension enhancements, and I have a bunch of them. Now granted I have been known to drive somewhat agressively on the street...

John V

I didn't say the sway bar was the least noticible. In fact, I think I was reaffirming what YOU stated on the 26 with the 20 front bar is fun. I thought that the REAR STRUT TOWER BRACE was the least noticible. I highly recommend the smaller front, bigger rear setup for successful autocross endeavors. My three 1st place trophies help attest to that.

 

[AutoXSHO]

Sorry, too quick on the trigger finger

John V

 

[herman]

A bigger rear sway bar has of course more effect on stock (softer springs) than if you have Eibachs. If you already installed Eibachs, did you ever consider the 28mm bar?? A 28mm bar in combination with a the right front bar (dont remember size now) can be a good concept. All R&D are avail for that combo. You didnt mention anything related to type of bushing between bar and suspension. Some cheapies cut out the stock rubber one, others use the original 26mm Ford rubber bushing that came with gen I, others use syntetic rubber a la the Energy Suspension kit. In addtion, there are also variable lengthend link out there. Also the the beheavior of the bar will be influenced by bushing material (rubber, syntetic, alu) in the links. What I am trying to say here is that you arent comparing the same mods here, so I see why guys dont get the same results.

H.
95ATX